Dougherty Enters County Race With Criticism Of Bausch

Democrat Daniel G. Dougherty entered the race for Lehigh County executive last night with a promise to attract businesses and jobs, create regional services and reduce the county's $120 million debt.

"I am a person who will make things happen," Dougherty said.

Dougherty, a county commissioner and lawyer, repeatedly criticized Republican Executive David K. Bausch, describing the administration as "government on inertia, with no direction and no vision for the future."

Dougherty, 28, of Allentown, made the announcement during a news conference and reception attended by about 50 people at Palace Gardens restaurant, Whitehall Township.

Dougherty is the second candidate and first Democrat to formally enter the campaign.

Two week ago, Republican Commissioner Jane S. Baker announced that she will challenge Bausch in the party's May 18 primary election. Bausch is expected to announce early next month that he is seeking a fifth and final four-year term.

Created by the Home Rule Charter, the executive oversees 2,500 county employees, services and facilities from the courthouse to the Trexler-Lehigh County Game Preserve and a $165 million annual budget. The position pays $49,500 per year.

Dougherty's wife, Janice, held their 13-month-old daughter, Amanda, as Dougherty stood at a podium and said he was a leader in cutting $1.5 million from the 1993 county budget. He said he voted to abolish the county's personal property tax.

Dougherty, a commissioner since last January, said he has attacked "overtime abuse" and sponsored bills giving the board a say in professional contracts in excess of $10,000 and oversight of office space advertisements.

Afterward, Dougherty said he had no specific plans to reduce the county debt and attract new businesses and jobs. But he said the county cannot continue to borrow and spend and cited the Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Plant, which he said cost $70 million, as an example.

"We're not recouping the money we're spending," Dougherty said. "We have to find economic growth. We have to get businesses out in suburban and western Lehigh County, in Upper Macungie, to use the plant."

He said Bausch's Jan. 13 announcement that Konspol International Ltd. will build a chicken processing plant in the county was a "nice idea" but an "election ploy."

"He should have been doing this for the last 15 years," Dougherty said. "I don't see that happening."

Asked about his lack of administrative experience, Dougherty said he has "general experience" in state politics and law school, as a legislative aide to a state senator and a member of board committees.

Dougherty said Bausch often is not at the courthouse, leaving Administrator John J. Kachmar Jr. to run the county. He said Bausch never communicates with the commissioners.

"I think this is bad administrative policy," Dougherty said. "I, coming from the board of commissioners, believe we can work together as the executive branch and the legislative branch."

Dougherty, in response to a question, said he isn't too young for the job.

"I think it's my desire and leadership abilities and energy," he said. "I think some people are too old for the job, and one of them is Mr. Bausch."

Bausch declined to respond to Dougherty's criticism, but said, "I think his actions in the past year or so indicated that he had some interest in running."